0
Jobb Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
I don't remember nothing
Should " I don't remember nothing" be " I don't remember anything?"
Context:
When Mesereau asked him to tell the jury why he lied under oath, the boy said, "I don't remember. It was five years ago. I don't remember nothing."
Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003, giving him alcohol and conspiring to hold the family captive to get them to rebut a damaging documentary in which Jackson said he allowed children to sleep in his bedroom.
Context:
When Mesereau asked him to tell the jury why he lied under oath, the boy said, "I don't remember. It was five years ago. I don't remember nothing."
Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003, giving him alcohol and conspiring to hold the family captive to get them to rebut a damaging documentary in which Jackson said he allowed children to sleep in his bedroom.
Top answer
The double negative is considered non-Standard, though it forms a part of the grammar of ebonics, as Casi will tell you. Most readers of this passage would consider Mesereau poorly educated. Since this is presumably a transcription of court testimony, it should stand unrevised, but 'I don't remember anything' is the Standard equivalent.
- The double negative is considered non-Standard, though it forms a part of the grammar of ebonics, as Casi will tell you.
- Most readers of this passage would consider Mesereau poorly educated.
- Since this is presumably a transcription of court testimony, it should stand unrevised, but 'I don't remember anything' is the Standard equivalent.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
The double negative is considered non-Standard, though it forms a part of the grammar of ebonics, as Casi will tell you. Most readers of this passage would consider Mesereau poorly educated.
Since this is presumably a transcription of court testimony, it should stand unrevised, but 'I don't remember anything' is the Standard equivalent.
Since this is presumably a transcription of court testimony, it should stand unrevised, but 'I don't remember anything' is the Standard equivalent.
00
0
Take a look at [url="http://www.onelook.com/?w=ebonics&ls=a"]ONE LOOK[/url]
00
It told me that Ebolaics is Black English. Is that like the English used in Black jokes and Black Humour?
00
black humor: the juxtaposition of morbid and farcical elements (in writing or drama) to give a disturbing effect
00
There is no such word as 'ebolaics'. I don't believe that you read the link very closely, Guest #1.
Ebonics: a nonstandard form of American English spoken by some African-Americans in the United States.
Ebonics: a nonstandard form of American English spoken by some African-Americans in the United States.
0
Related Questions